It is easy to be enthused about what is happening with U3A Riverland. I often receive wonderful feedback about classes or activities which members have participated in. If you haven’t yet found something to interest you, let us know—we will run whatever activity we can.

The Committee have worked hard to make our new “home” in Strawbridge Street liveable and we plan to embark on a facelift for this old building.

We thank Sue Luchich for her time on the committee—Sue retired earlier in the year due to other commitments.

As I put this newsletter together I am reminded of the fun many members have had and the wonderful new friendships that have formed as a result of joining a class or activity.

I personally have enjoyed both the art and writing classes and had a whole lot of fun

leading the sock knitting group.

I encourage you all to work with your committee to ensure the future success of our U3A—we are all very approachable.

A huge thank you to our volunteer tutors without whom there would be no classes or activities.

I look forward to seeing you at our Christmas function at Moorook and I encourage you to attend the AGM early next year. This is a great time to give the committee feedback.

LIFE IS FOR LEARNING

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RIVERLAND

Your Committee, who work tirelessly to make U3A a success, are happy to answer any questions or take up any suggestions you may have. Please contact us:

President: Brent Morrell 0427 963 386 Publicity: Diana March 0499 822 661 Vice President: Marian Woodberry 0412 649 766 Grants: Tony Guster 0447 781 820 Secretary: Daina Braddock 0412 416 892 Anne Chase 0448 108 249 Treasurer: Shirley Sims 0413 189 377 Judith Hennig 0407 838 220 Courses: Anna Harper 0427 519 472 Bev Hartigan 0438 507 606 Web Master: Terry Marter 0427 618 145

As we approach the end of our third year of U3A Riverland’s operations we can be well pleased with our achievements to date.

We continue to be served by a great group of tutors and facilitators who provide a wide range of activities. We would love to offer more, but cannot unless more members are willing to lead groups.

Most of our tutors and facilitators don’t have formal training to teach. The most common plea we hear when we approach a member to share their skills is, “But I’m not a teacher.” Not true! If you have raised children, you are a teacher; the time you spend with your grand-

children, you are most often teaching; if you trained someone to take over your job so that

you could retire, you are a teacher. The advantage our tutors have over “proper” teachers is that their pupils want to be there! U3A can only progress through the participation of you, our members. Consider putting your hand up to share a skill you possess.

Perhaps the most significant event of the second half of 2017 has been settling into our new clubrooms at 1 Strawbridge Street, Berri. This old building has had a number of occupants during its lifetime and is currently housing the Berri RSL sub-Branch. Its members have agreed to share the building with us – a great relief when we were unable to continue at the River Lands Gallery. Whilst the building has seen better days, it provides us with a central home and a bright airy space for several activities, particularly the Art and French groups. We hope to improve the facility over time and welcome your input when the time comes.

Thank you all for your continued support of U3A Riverland. I look forward to catching up with as many of you as can attend our Christmas lunch on Friday December 8th.

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Robert Hannaford Gallery

Robert “Alfie” Hannaford was born and bred in rural South Australia. After 3 years as the political cartoonist for the 'Adelaide Advertiser' in the mid 60's, he has made his living from painting and sculpture. He lives and works with his wife, artist Alison Mitchell, near Riverton in South Australia.

Known for his portraits, including self portraits, Robert welcomed the U3A Riverland group to his gallery where works from the recent SALA Festival were on display.

Perhaps three of Robert’s most iconic sculptures are those of Don Bradman at the Adelaide Oval, ‘Mo’ (Roy Rene) in Hindley Street and Simpson and his Donkey in the Adelaide Memorial Gardens.

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Several members of the U3A Writing for Pleasure group attended literary activities held at the Barmera Library.

A book launch by SA author Tricia Stringer was well attended and highly entertaining. Tricia is the bestselling author of a number of rural romances together with her historical saga set in the Flinders Ranges.

Children’s book author Mike Dumbleton ran a full-day workshop aimed at arming attendees with strategies for writing a children’s picture book.

I grew up in a loving family in Adelaide. Black Forest Methodist Church, Black Forest Primary School, Unley High School and Wattle Park Teachers’ College were all significant parts of my youth. I taught for four years and then stayed home with our children for sixteen years. Our family spent five years at Beachport and then almost forty one years ago we came to Berri. The very first Sunday at Berri Uniting Church, we were welcomed so warmly that I have felt at home here ever since.

In the Riverland I worked as a School Services Officer concurrently at Glossop Primary and Berri Primary Schools. My role was mainly based in the library with some work supporting students in the classroom. I loved my involvement in the

Riverland Primary Schools’ Music Festival and this was the highlight of the school year. For many years I was the co-ordinator.

Since retirement some of my activities are being a leader in our church, tennis, ukulele, walking, book club, writing for enjoyment with U3A, volunteering in a school, Sing Australia, learning piano again and being on other committees.

Anne Chase

I am thankful for my Christian faith, my wonderful husband John and the blessing of our three children, their spouses and the joy of six grandchildren. I am also

thankful for the gift of friendship.

During 1967 and 1968 I served in the Australian Army as a National Serviceman, spending most of 1968 as an Air Despatcher with Det. 176 Air Dispatch Platoon in Vietnam. Upon my discharge I studied at Adelaide University and Pat & I were married in Ceduna in 1969.

I resumed my teaching career and taught at both Brompton Primary School and Crystal Brook Primary School. After further university studies in 1975, I resumed teaching at Brompton Primary School, followed by an Acting Principal position in Caltowie. From 1978 until 1981 I was the Principal of Penong Primary School on the Far West Coast.

In 1982 I was appointed Deputy Principal of Renmark Primary School where I remained, with various acting and advisory appointments, until my retirement at the end of 2005.

In retirement I did a little relief teaching, a good deal of tutoring and more recently, a lot of travelling with Pat in our caravan. I have also had a reasonable opportunity to work on a Family History Project and to be involved in committees for Renmark Legacy and the Renmark RSL Sub Branch.

On the formation of U3A Riverland in 2015, I was elected to the committee as Grants Officer and have been successful in obtaining a variety of funds to further the operations of our local organization.

Tony Guster

I was born in Berri on May 23rd, 1946 and spent most of my childhood on Kangaroo Island where my father had a soldier settler’s mixed farm.

After completing my teacher training at Wattle Park Teachers’ College in 1966, I was posted to Ceduna Area School as a primary school teacher. It was there that I met my future wife, Pat.

My early married life was very busy and unpredictable as we moved around Australia with the Military.

While enjoying the changes we raised 5 lovely children who in turn are now raising our 10 beautiful grand-children, mostly in other states.

Being a Social Worker my Professional life was varied with many changeable community roles – teacher, co-ordinator of Aged Care, Rehabilitation and Disability services and various positions in the Department of Human Services.

As well as having demanding careers my husband and I attempted to live a sustainable self-sufficient lifestyle on our property in the Adelaide Hills actively participating in the ‘Soil Association’, Permaculture Society and the Australian Native Plants Society. I milked cows and goats, had poultry and horses, an organic orchard and vegetable garden and could even shoot rabbits from our kitchen window. I tried spinning, weaving and knitting from the fleece, preserving food and even tanning leather.

Sounds idyllic but such a lot of work and as the children left home and we grew older and retired we decided to relocate closer to our eldest daughter and traded our green hills for a vineyard on red sand and new adventures on the river.

Bev Hartigan

As a relative newcomer I was delighted to find out that U3A and I arrived in the Riverland about the same time, 4 years ago. Being part of U3A has enabled me to make new friends, to have new experiences and most importantly, to try and reactivate my long dormant creative juices through art, drawing and knitting.

Meet your committee members..

KNIT ONE, SIP ONE, ONE!

To this

DROP

This chatty group learned how to knit with 4 needles, how to turn a heel and how to shape a toe. I’ve never witnessed so much excitement in a group. Yes there was the odd dropped stitch and the occasional unravelling of what had already been knitted but their persistence paid off. If you would like to knit a pair of these “funky” socks, register your interest for the next class.

Our thanks to Big River Tavern in Berri who allowed us to knit and natter in their comfortable and relaxed environment.

Well … it didn’t always occur in that order but the group of 10 who participated in the sock knitting course not only produced amazing socks, they did it over a glass of wine or coffee and enjoyed many laughs. None of them ever imagined that their ball of wool could be so dramatically transformed.

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No, not “The hills are Alive” with Julie Andrews!

Music Appreciation is a small group of U3A members who enjoy classical music and want to learn more about various composers and their music. It is an informal and relaxed journey listening to then discussing the music and composer. We enhance our knowledge of the history of music through a video series presented by an American Professor of music.

The group would welcome new members. A background in classical music is not essential, nor do you need to have played a musical instrument or be able to read music … just an interest in classical music is sufficient.

The group meets every second Wednesday of the month between 10am and 12pm at U3A headquarters in Strawbridge Street.

Direct your enquiries to Judy Kelly on 0412 051 824.

THE SOUNDS OF

1 When a road has double solid white lines in the centre, are you

allowed to cross them to overtake a cyclist if the way forward is clear?

a) Yes, providing the driver has a clear view and the manoeuvre can be completed safely

b) No c) Yes, only if it is one-way traffic and it can be completed safely

2 When following another vehicle in a line of traffic travelling at 60km/h,

what distance is considered to be the minimum safe following distance for dry road conditions?

a) 8 to 9 car lengths (about 40m). b) 3 to 4 car lengths (about 20m). c) 1 car length (about 5m).

3 How far from an oncoming car would you need to be to safely

overtake a 23m B-double heavy truck that’s travelling at 100km/h in a 110km/h speed zone, without exceeding the speed limit?

a) At least 1km. b) At least 3km. c) At least 2km.

4 Is a Qualified Supervising Driver who is instructing a learner driver

allowed to have alcohol in their blood?

a) Yes, provided they have an alcohol concentration of less than 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres of blood.

b) Yes, only the learner driver is responsible. c) No, not at any time.

5 When do you have to give way to pedestrians at a children’s crossing

(‘Emu’ crossing)?

a) At any time of the day or night when children are present. b) When the ‘CHILDREN CROSSING’ flags or banners are displayed. c) Only between 8.30am and 9.30am and 3.00pm and 4.00pm during school term.

6 Which ONE of the following statements is TRUE?

a) The speed limit in School Zones applies only on school days. b) The speed limit in School Zones only applies when children in the School

Zone are dressed in uniform. c) You’re allowed to travel faster than the School Zone limit if there is no child

in the School Zone.

7 What does this sign mean?

a) Vehicles must not stop at the kerb for any reason. b) A vehicle may not stop, except when actually picking up or dropping off people. c) Pedestrians must not stand on the roadway.

8 What’s the minimum distance that you’re allowed to park your vehicle

from a marked continuous centre line, or dividing strip?

a) 5m.

b) 3m. c) 4m.

Check the answers to the right. How many did you get correct? Take the full practise test at www.raa.com.au

The Ultimate Road Rule Quiz

Could you pass the learner's test if you had to sit it now?

It’s been years since most of us got our licence and plenty of road rules have changed since, so could you still pass the learner’s test? The following are a few of the most incorrectly answered questions in RAA’s online practice quiz—www.raa.com.au

1 (a)

Nearly 60% got this one wrong. The rule was changed about a year ago when the new cycling laws came into place. Drivers can indeed cross solid white lines – or painted islands – to overtake a cyclist, but only if it’s safe. However, you can’t do so to overtake a car or motorcyclist.

2 (a)

This was the most incorrectly answered question with nearly 70% getting it wrong! Scarily, the majority of people chose ‘c’ – which would put them at significant risk of a rear-end crash.

3 (c)

Most people don’t realise how much space they need to safely overtake at high speeds. Only 45 per cent got this right. When you consider how fast you and those travelling towards you are going – it’s critical that you have at least 2km of clear road ahead to overtake legally and avoid the risk of a crash.

4 (a)

63% of people failed on this question. You might be surprised to learn that supervising drivers can have alcohol in their blood, as long as they’re not over the legal limit of 0.05. It is recommend that you don’t drink at all when supervising a learner.

5 (b)

Only 41 % chose the right answer. When it comes to an Emu crossing, you only have to give way when the red ‘children crossing’ flags are out. These are different to Koala crossings – the ones with flashing lights. At these, you should give way whenever the lights are flashing, or follow instructions from the people holding the ‘slow’ and ‘stop’ signs.

6 (c)

You must follow the 25km/h speed limit whenever children are present, regardless of the day or the time. 48 incorrectly thought that this limit only applies on school days.

7 (b)

Quite a few people selected option ‘a’, probably getting it confused with a ‘no stopping’ sign, which restricts motorists from coming to a halt for any reason. If you do stop near this sign, remember, you can’t leave your vehicle unattended or stay longer than two minutes, unless the sign says otherwise.

8 b

Everyone knows you can’t park where there’s a yellow line on the side of the road, but many don’t realise there’s a rule about parallel parking near white lines too. Basically, if the road has a solid white centre line, there must be at least 3m between the outside of your car and the centre line for other vehicles to safely pass. If there’s not, you can’t park there